How do I know which one would be best for my current roof’s condition?
The difference between re-roofing and replacement is stripping the existing roof shingle layer(s) from the roof deck. 3 layers are the maximum you can have on your roof.
However, I would recommend replacement every time you need a new roof.
- you will know exactly what the roof deck (roof plywood) condition is. In many cases they need to be nailed down since from 20-25 years of weather change the fasteners do get rusty and loose.
- Stripping the existing roof shingles in many cases are not expensive, so it is wise to have it replaced.
- Changing drip edge or ice&water shield or even felt paper with the replacement gives you peace of mind that it is being done right (per manufacturer’s requirements)
- you might think you are saving money when re-roofing because you are not paying for stripping now but once it gets to 2 layers you will end up paying double if not more.
hopefully I answered your questions.
If you have any more questions please feel free to contact me.
Thank you and good luck.
Very informative post, thanks!
Thinking about cost, why is it so much more expensive to strip 2 layers instead of 1? Is it more physical work, or is there more likely to be some repair done underneath?
Also, if you do have the roof stripped every time you have a home re-roofed, what’s the added cost? 10% or 20% extra? I know prices can also vary greatly for a variety of factors, but just trying to get some idea of the added cost.
advancedbuildingserv is correct in their answer about replacement of a roof, but they are vague about what re-roofing is. Re-roofing is applying a new roof directly over the existing roof. This does save money initially, but can look rough and not as neat as the replacement roofing. You can also get areas that do not adhere well and can come loos in a heavy wind. Basically, re-roofing is like painting over pealing paint; it probably wont last long. Your best bet is to replace the roof and repair or replace any flashing or nailing.
Good afternoon Jane!
Reroofing is the method of layering one set of new shingles over a set of existing shingles. If you already have two layers of roofing in place, reroofing is not an option for you. Because there is no tear off, reroofing can go much faster and be much less expensive than a complete roof replacement.
Roof replacement is tearing off everything on the roof, and then putting on new felt paper and shingles. A roof replacement can be done no matter how many layers of shingles are already on the roof, so it can be done even when a reroofing is not an option. This can be more expensive than re roof because there’s more labor involved in the job.
You will be able to know what will be the best depending on the current condition of the roof or it depends if how many layers of materials you already have on your roof. The roof must be seen in order to get an accurate information.
Thank you!